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Hi Dr. Haack, I work for the State of Oregon Public Health and I'm looking for opportunities to partner with other parties to encourage Green Chemistry Education and/or alternative assessments with industries seeking safer chemical substitutes. It seems a lot of focus is on safer consumer products which is needed. However, I'm more interested in safer processes as well, to protect workers and communities alike from an acute chemical emergency. Looking forward to hearing more about the Green Product Design Network.

" I believe in structural innovation. I define it as purposeful invention, (creative solutions that embody sustainability, longevity, purpose, and beauty) Social embodiment, (you get out more than the sum total of the inputs, and that energy can not be diluted, by its very nature it gathers more strength -( Like a drop of water) In harmony with natural forces, robust, yet resilient (like bamboo or the mighty oak that stands alone in the farmers field.

I have built buildings and rammed earth walls and displays for shoes and places for video games to be played. Many solutions, all with a purpose. The key question: Did the Client-Designer creation process transform, transcend, or simply evolve? An apple is not a product of evolution, its is the result of selective nurturing, stakeholders, a series of decisions, with the intent of producing an outcome better than the sum if its parts.

I am determined to be better than the sum of my parts, life experiences, to not just evolve but be part of a tide that harnesses the human potential, for waves of benefit for all of our partners; the planet, the plants and animals, and mankind. All are equal, none are master nor slave."

I am looking for partners in the journey of discovery and creation, determination and passion, wisdom and intention. What do you think?

Hi Julie, in response to your question, THE GREEN MARKET is indeed located at the coordinates you cite. I share your view that Green chemistry will play a salient role in managing the problems we face. As a sustainability consultant and writer I am fascinated and appreciative of the work you do.

I definitely seen some interesting things regarding the UO Green Chemistry program. I have been impressed with Jim Hutchinson and others that have given presentations. Is there a specific area, problem or technology that you are working on?

Good question on interdisciplinary student/MBA. Essentially it means choose your own adventure. I am taking courses in three different departments: Landscape Architecture, Planning and Public Policy, and Sustainable Business Practices. The focus of my work is in the area of ecological design and sustainability issues. As far as international experience, I worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru for over four years.

Thanks for setting up the student page. I look forward to others joining and continuing the conversation.

Hi Julie. Thanks for the greeting.
In my first project at UMich, my team mate and I used Boustead Consulting software because it was available to us. This is where we learned about the many approximations involved in using LCA software. For a given category the impacts are based on the location and processes used. Sometimes you get a choice, usually you don't and end up using what is available. Sensitivity analysis can help you understand if there is a significant impact on your conclusion. We did an LCA on a computer printer, and it soon became apparent that the impact of the paper used dwarfed the impact of the printer itself. Printing double-sided almost halves your impact. In a later project the class used a free version of SimaPro. My team mate on the first project was Jason Ord, who is now the LCA guy at HP in Vancouver, WA. Your request is a good excuse for me to reconnect with him.
-- Tom

Julie,
Thanks for the welcoming email. I found your site during a web search. At this point my product interest in is energy harvesting from the day to day actions carried out by the human body. I am trying to be a catalyst for the design of modular open source off the shelf components which could be used by innovative minds in capturing human motion which is normally lost.
I have blogged about these in my Word Press site as well as a guest blogger in Glimmer Site. I have also entered a few concepts in the Tech Briefs Design the Future 2010 contest.
These are not for profit activities of mine. My day job is that of a factory automation engineer in a Medical Device company.
I will be happy to forward information about this to you if required.